Sorry about the delay recently, folks. I've had a heck of a lot keeping me busy.
That said, I may be cutting chapters down in size to get them out faster as I'm going to be very busy through February and into march.
Either way, the Tabitha fans should really enjoy this chapter. Let me know if you like her inclusion in this story and want to see her in a central role going on!
...
Tabitha quietly relishes her secret magical connection with Michael and embraces the resurgence of feelings that it brings.
Blossoming Feelings
Setting down a fresh pair of clothes on the chair at Tabitha's bedside, Kirche smiles at her blue-haired friend.
"I'll leave these here for you, alright?"
Tabitha pushes her glasses up the bridge of her nose and nods.
"Okay. Thank you."
"You're quite welcome, dear," the Germanian answers with a gentle smile. "Is there anything else you need in the meantime?"
Tabitha ponders for a moment and then shakes her head.
"No, thank you."
With this, Kirche raises a cautious brow.
"And you're sure you can make it back to your room without any trouble?" the redhead poses. "I don't mind helping if you're still struggling."
"I'm certain, Kirche, thank you," Tabitha insists with a second nod.
Sighing gently at her friend's stoic nature, Kirche simply steps back from the bed.
"As you wish." A spark of remembrance flares in her eyes, causing her to open out her cloak and bring out a letter from the inside pocket.
"Before I forget, this is for you, Tabitha," the Germanian says whilst placing the missive, neatly rolled and adorning what looks like a royal stamp, down on the bedside table.
The bluenette Gallian glances between the paper and Kirche. "What is it?"
"An invitation to Tristania, from Princess Henrietta. You and I both have one, as do Louise and Michael."
Kirche's mentioning of Michael causes a flutter in Tabitha's chest. She keeps her true feelings sealed away deeply, however.
"A royal summons?" Tabitha asks, her voice flat to mask the quiet excitement she harbors at her blonde friend's inclusion.
The redhead nods.
"Mmm-hmm. It seems Tristain's royalty wishes to thank us for our parts in subduing Fouquet," Kirche explains, puffing out her chest with the smallest hint of pride. "There will be a meal in our honor, and even an audience with Her Highness, The Princess."
Remaining subdued, Tabitha hums in short acknowledgement.
"Understood. You're going, then?"
Folding her arms behind her back, Kirche hums excitedly.
"Why, absolutely, Tabitha. Such a blessing will aid me greatly with building a strong rapport here in Tristain." A mischievous look coloring her features, Kirche winks. "Then, should Father still insist I marry the Duke upon graduating, I will simply remain here in service to the crown."
"And hopefully I will have won over Louise's familiar by then," the well-endowed girl adds in a whisper, cracking a naughty smile.
Where the notion of Kirche's flirting with Michael once held no meaning, Tabitha now feels a tiny twinge of envy. Of displeasure at the notion of the Germanian's advances.
Suppressing the urge to frown about it, though, she keeps her thoughts squarely on Princess Henrietta's invitation.
"I'll think about it, going to Tristainia," the bluenette decides. "When will you leave?"
"Tomorrow, at Noon," Kirche reveals between glancing at her long, painted nails and smiling gently to herself. "Our audience in Tristania is scheduled for two days from now, so I intend to depart from Lenore by coach tomorrow."
Tabitha bobs her head in understanding. Accomodation springs to mind thereafter.
"You'll stay in a coachman's inn overnight, then?" the younger mage presumes.
"Correct. That way, I should arrive in Tristania by lunchtime," Kirche reasons.
"Okay. I'll give an answer once I've returned to my room."
"Of course. Have a good rest, Tabitha, and do be careful on the way through the halls."
Another nod from the reserved mage.
"I will, yes."
With that, Kirche waves at her friend and makes her way out through the gap in the dividers surrounding the bed. Once she is alone, Tabitha glances down at the clothes on the chair, and then slowly pulls herself out from under the covers.
Her feet reach the cold floor and she shudders for a moment.
Candles flicker on her bedside table, illumination for the late hour.
The young mage stretches her stiff body for a moment with a soft grunt. She then adjusts her glasses and then reaches for her pocket watch that sits on the table.
The time is a little after eleven at night.
Closing the timepiece and placing it into the front pocket of the freshly-delivered school shirt, the girl nods.
"Best I bathe now; before it gets any later," she decides. Unlike many students here, Tabitha prefers not to take advantage of the peasant servants without good cause. Even if it is their place in the world.
Resolute in her decision, the girl slips off her gown and tosses it to the infirmary floor with a soft exhale.
The chilly evening air catching her bare skin, she reaches for the pair of fresh underwear and uniform Kirche dropped off for her.
The infirmary is silent, save for the soft hooting of owls outside. She turns her head and takes in the sound for a few moments before returning her attention to her underwear.
As she does, her earlier conversation with Michael flashes through her thoughts.
"Because I promised you wouldn't be alone anymore, remember?" the blunette recalls Michael saying earlier.
Tabitha feels another rush of pleasure as she tugs her panties up. Her legs are shaking. She stumbles and catches herself on the nearby wall.
The next thing she knows, Tabitha is on her knees, her eyes squeezed tightly shut.
Her heart races.
Pleasure, it swells and swells. It makes her lightheaded, and her breaths come in shallow, rapid gasps.
This sensation and the way it grips her body with such ethereal warmth... it is the same in kind as the time when she and Michael first became connected. When she saw so many disjointed and nonsensical glimpses of his life.
A towering city with metal dragons that carried people inside.
A sickly blonde lady laid down in a bed surrounded by metal boxes and tubes.
A girl with fiery red hair and freckled cheeks sat astride Michael and howling with delight as she rode him in their cramped single-person bed.
Pain. Sadness. Pleasure. Excitement. Fear.
Emotions the two share thanks to her botched magical spell.
This means the intense pleasure the girl now feels burning between her legs is being felt by Michael as well.
Tabitha moans and presses her thighs together, trying to quell the building heat as she clings to the side of the nearby infirmary bed.
J-Just what is he doing...? Are he and Louise being intimate with one another?
The blunette bites her lip and squeezes her eyes shut.
She tries to focus her mind on something else, anything else.
She tries to ignore the heat coiling in her stomach or the way her panties have grown sticky from arousal.
Tabitha forces herself to take slow, deep breaths. She tries to focus on the owls outside.
She tries to ignore the way her heart races, or how her breasts feel heavy and tender.
It doesn't work.
Michael is too aroused. His passionate flames course through her. They ignite her passion.
It burns.
The heat makes Tabitha feel warm and flushed all over. It makes her lightheaded and dizzy.
Her vision blurs as she struggles to stay upright.
And, driven by instinct, she slides her soiled white panties down to her knees. Then she lowers onto her hands and knees on the cold stone floor.
With a soft gasp, the girl reaches down with shaky fingers and brushes two shaky fingertips against the thick blue bur of hair nestled between her thighs.
When she touches herself, her breath hitches in her throat. She bites her lip.
Her heart is beating a mile a minute. It's hard to think.
Tabitha's cheeks burn hot with shame and embarrassment as she traces her fingers up along the length of her slit. So slick and wet
"O-Oh, my..." Tabitha murmurs.
Tears well at the corners of her eyes. Tears of delight.
It has been so very long since Galian did something like this. Months, in fact.
And, although she is ashamed to admit it, even to herself, Tabitha deeply enjoys such stimulation. On the rare occasion that the mood takes her, at least.
Tabitha feels her stomach tighten as her body responds to the intense pleasure.
She leans back, braces her hands on the side of the infirmary bed, and closes her eyes.
The girl takes slow, deep breaths.
And imagines Michael.
Shirtless.
Pulling her into a strong embrace and providing comfort for her years-long loneliness. Her isolation.
She pictures Michael running his hands along her waist. She pictures him reaching beneath her skirt and sliding a finger inside of her.
Tabitha bites her lip.
Her already soaking wet blossom positively oozes with arousal. It throbs. It aches.
Tabitha's vision blurs. Her entire body feels as though it is on fire.
Tabitha reaches down and cups her sopping mound in her hand then rolls her hips against her palm.
Her thighs are soaked with her nectar, and her legs tremble.
"M-Michael," the blunette pants heatedly.
Whining, the girl envisions Michael trailing kisses down the length of her stomach whilst burying his fingers deeper and deeper inside her tender virgin chasm.
Tabitha rocks her hips against her hand and moans softly.
She squeezes her eyes shut and grits her teeth.
She can practically see Michael smiling at her as he presses his lips against hers.
That same smile he cracks so very often. A smile all too often reserved for Louise.
A smile she yearns to be on the receiving end of.
Tabitha gasps softly and reaches up with her unspoiled hand to touch her burning cheek. Her heart flutters.
"A-Ah," the girl whispers.
She feels so very warm, and her heart aches for more.
Tabitha feels Michael's pleasure build as he's brought closer and closer to the edge.
The blunette feels her pleasure mount as well, and wants so desperately to reach her peak!
Like those sultry maidens in all of those romance novels, the sorts that eloped with hearts full to the brim with wanderlust and desires.
She feels Michael's climax approaching, and it draws a frustrated growl from the back of her throat.
"A-Almost," Tabitha chokes out, and lowers herself onto her hands and knees, trembling. "Only a little more..."
Tabitha presses her fingers inside of herself.
She pictures Michael taking her from behind. She pictures him holding her hips, and she pictures herself bucking wildly as the two make love.
"M-Michael!" The blunette whispers heatedly.
Michael's seed spills out, and Tabitha too erupts in a passionate whimper.
"Michael..." Tabitha hisses under her breath, her fingers curling deep inside of her soaking-wet womanhood.
The girl bites her lip and whines.
Then she feels her own orgasm rock through her.
Tabitha's eyes roll up in the back of her head as she pictures Michael climaxing inside of her, and she pictures his seed flowing out and dripping down her thigh.
The blunette bites her lip and moans.
Her body trembles, and she sinks down to her knees on the cold stone floor of the infirmary.
Michael's pleasure fades as his climax dies down, and Tabitha's does as well.
The girl whimpers quietly as she reaches down and presses her fingers against her dripping-wet folds.
"Wow..." Tabitha whispers under her breath. She blushes. "It's never... felt like that before."
The blunette forces herself to sit up.
She reaches down and touches her soaked panties with her fingertips.
Her heart flutters. She feels like a naughty maiden after having read a lewd romance novel.
So base. So shameful. And so very, very satisfied.
Smiling shyly, Tabitha cleans herself off with a nearby towel and then begins redressing.
And as she does, a guilty spark ignites within her heart. A tiny, selfish desire.
Reaching a hand to her heart, she lowers her head and exhales deeply.
"...I don't want to be alone anymore," the girl decides in a whisper.
She is tired of being alone. She is tired of having to carry such a heavy burden for so long.
And through this bond, though totally accidentally, she has finally found a connection with another. A friend. A companion. Somebody she aches to learn more about. Both platonically and romantically.
Even if he belongs to Louise.
"I want you to belong to me..." Tabitha confesses. "Just a little bit."
Stronger and stronger her selfish spark burns, its light growing brighter and more insistent.
Tabitha's face burns bright with embarrassment as she steps back into the cold evening air.
"This bond of ours must remain in place," the blunette admits. "Or I will be alone again."
The mere thought of being closed off again hurts now, where it used to provide comfort.
Mind made up, she nods conclusively and draws back the divider surrounding her bed.
She'll slow her research for a while. She'll stop her hunt for a way to break this spell binding them together. At least for the time being.
"I cannot afford to lose him," the blunette resolves in a whisper.
The two will have plenty of time to bond whilst visiting Tristania-
The invitation Kirche brought earlier!
With a soft gasp slipping free from her lips, Tabitha quickly buttons her shirt and throws on her cloak. Dressed and ready to go now, she returns to her bedside and retrieves the invitation.
Princess Henrietta's royal summons to Tristania Palace: Tabitha's gift for her part in stopping Fouquet and safely securing the Staff of Destruction. Even if she has been asleep in the many days since.
Exhaling gently, the bespectacled mage shakes her head.
"How very unlike me," she muses quietly.
To almost forget something so crucial.
The girl pauses for a moment, her breath hitching in her throat, before turning on her heels and beginning toward the infirmary door with the letter held tightly to her chest.
"Embarrassing..." The blue-haired mage whispers under her breath as she steps out into the hallway.
And yet in some ways, so very exciting.
To feel things beyond the cloistered world of books, to have desires and yearnings beyond the cloistered world of books and solitude, is indeed a wonderful thing.
And the best part of it all...?
"It was all a beautiful accident," the girl whispers under her breath.
And she can't wait to see how hers and Michael's relationship will develop from here on.
Bathed and undressed for bed, Tabitha stands naked before her bedroom mirror.
Her body is slim and lithe, and her breasts are little yet firm.
Tabitha bites her lip and turns to the side, observing her figure for what feels like the thousandth time this evening.
Her stomach is flat and her skin is pale. Her hips are thin, and her thighs are slim and tight. Between those thighs sits her innocent blossom and her thick, blue patch of womanly hair.
Tabitha bites her lip.
A perfect figure for a woman. A beautiful figure, or so the girl was told by nursemaids growing up.
And yet, she never cared to listen to them.
Nor has she cared to even consider gazing at herself in the mirror like this in such a very long time.
Tabitha exhales and closes her eyes.
Then she spares a tiny, fragile smile.
Something is different now, though.
She feels the stirrings of hope and desire deep down inside.
"I like this," Tabitha muses under her breath, her smile widening. "I like this a lot."
She feels the stirrings of desire. The stirrings of lust. The stirrings of yearning and love.
Tabitha turns and looks at her bed.
There is an open romance novel lying atop her sheets, one of the many she brought with her from Galia when enrolling here as a student. A classic book depicting a young duke's daughter who imposed isolation upon herself to save the man she loved from enlisting in a Romallian war.
The Aristocrat's Heart.
A dozen times she has read this particular book.
Stepping nearer the book-covered bed, the blunette picks up the particular story.
"I'd like to share it with you when we visit Tristania," Tabitha admits in a whisper, cheeks warming.
When she and Michael have more time to themselves. When they can get to know one another better.
Setting the book back down on her bedside table, the dainty mage takes a seat on the edge of her mattress.
Then she reaches down and brushes her fingertips along the length of her thigh.
A tiny smile works its way onto her lips.
"It feels nice," Tabitha whispers.
A soft knock at the door causes her to flinch, however.
"Ah!" The girl gasps, her cheeks pinkening as she moves to cover herself. "O-One moment..."
Rushing over to her dresser, Tabitha quickly throws on a pair of underwear and her nightgown.
"Who is it?" she calls out meekly.
"Tabitha? It's Kirche," a familiar voice responds. "May I come in?"
Tabitha pauses for a moment, considers her response, and then nods her head.
"You may, the door's open," she answers.
With a smile, the fiery Germanian woman steps into the room.
"Hey there," she says. "How are you feeling? Are you managing alright, dear?"
Kirche wears one of her usual lacy purple nightgowns with ample cleavage on display. Sitting at the edge of Tabitha's bed beside a stack of books, she folds one leg over the other and smiles warmly.
Tabitha lowers her gaze and nods.
"I'm managing," she says. "Thank you, Kirche."
"Mm, good," the redhead responds. "You are coming to Tristania with the rest of us, aren't you?"
Tabitha blinks.
"O-Oh," she says. "Yes. I am."
Kirche's expression brightens.
"Wonderful!" she says. "I'll make sure to meet with you before we depart, then."
Tabitha blushes.
"Th-That would be nice," the girl admits.
"Oh really...?" the redhead poses with a hum and rises to her feet. She approaches Tabitha and places a hand on her shoulder. "I must say, Tabitha, you're being rather... expressive this evening. Are you absolutely sure everything is alright?" the Germanian adds with a chuckle. "Because, if you don't mind me saying, you look rather flushed."
Tabitha flinches at Kirche's touch and her cheeks burn bright red.
"I'm fine," the blunette whispers. "T-Thank you, Kirche."
Kirche chuckles a second time with greater affection and gives her friend's shoulder a gentle squeeze.
"Well, alright then," she says. "But if you need anything, Tabitha, don't hesitate to ask. Alright?"
Tabitha nods and lowers her head.
"I will."
Kirche leans in and pats Tabitha's head with a little giggle.
"Good. Well, I'll see you in the morning then, shall I?"
Tabitha nods, and with a parting smile, the redhead turns to leave.
"Have a good night," Kirche says as she steps out into the hall. "Oh, and one more thing..."
Tabitha looks up to her friend.
"Yes...?"
Kirche spares her a tiny smirk.
"Whatever has you blushing so adorably, Tabitha, please do make the most of it. Seeing you this girlish is a very welcome change," the Germanian teases with a wink.
Tabitha's face positively burns at her friend's words.
"O-Oh, yes, alright," she stammers. "I... will. Thank you, Kirche."
"My pleasure, dear. Sleep well." With a parting smile, Kirche closes the door behind her.
Left alone, Tabitha sinks back down onto her mattress and hugs her knees to her chest.
She feels so very embarrassed. So very shy.
So very... happy.
She feels a warm fluttering in her stomach as she reflects on the night's events.
"I... really do like him," Tabitha admits to herself, and blushes. "More than I should."
The blunette smiles, her heart fluttering in her chest.
"I hope we get to know each other better," she admits in a whisper, clutching a hand to her chest. "I hope we grow to love each other, just a little."
Then she lowers herself down onto her bed and snuggles beneath the covers.
And, with her face flushed and her heart affectionately aglow., the dainty mage shuts her eyes.
Just as Kirche suggested, Tabitha won't surrender this feeling, even as little as she knows Michael.
Even at the risk of her and Louise becoming rivals over the familiar.
Drifting while sleep takes hold, Tabitha quietly prays for dreams filled with warmth and love.
To be continued...
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